PLUCKY transplant kid William Milne thought he was only a superhero in his mum’s eyes.

PLUCKY transplant kid William Milne thought he was only a superhero in his mum’s eyes.

But now the five year-old will be a man of steel to millions of other children facing the same battle for life.

Because he has been immortalised as a comic book character.

He has joined cartoon superheroes in a caped crusade to help youngsters understand how organ swap operations work.

William is currently being treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where he was one of only few children in the UK to have had a small bowel transplant, and has needed two further operations since.

His fearless attitude caught the attention of Medikidz, an organisation which produces special comics to explain to young patients how various conditions affect their bodies.

Former Marvel Comics artist John Taddeo drew some of the scenes following William’s journey back to health.

Speaking from his hospital bed, William said: “It’s so exciting. It looks just like me. I think it’s great!”

Mum Sarah Milne, 39, who also has daughters Hope, 14, and Ellie, 10, said: “There is such a good likeness to William. His sisters are going to love seeing the cartoon, too.

“Medikidz are so passionate about what they do, and there was nothing out there to explain small bowel transplants. This will be a real help to donor families. It is a comic but it is more important than just that.

“I have always seen William as a hero. Now everyone else will, too.”

The comic book story follows William after he refuses to take his medication.

He is helped by five superheroes, who specialise in different organs, in Mediland – a living planet shaped like the human body.

Through the adventure, William learns the importance of looking after himself, and about organ donation.

His character reveals to other children how scary it is to wait for a transplant, and be constantly in and out of hospital.

Medikidz founder Dr Kim Chiman-Blair said: “These comics are developed by a team of doctors. They empower children with the knowledge they need to take ownership of their illness, while taking away their fear of the unknown.

“Every day, millions of children worldwide are diagnosed with conditions that even their parents may find difficult to comprehend.

“In the past, it has been a commonly held view that children are too young to understand medical concepts or, worse still, are better off not knowing.

“There is an unsatisfied need for medical information for young patients.”

William, from Croydon, treats Birmingham as his second home because he spends so much time at the Children’s Hospital.

He is one of only 91 children who have received a small bowel transplant in the UK since the first one at the hospital in 1993.

William’s life-saving operation took place in November 2008, three months after he was put on the transplant list.

“William was so poorly when they discovered he needed a small bowel transplant,” added mum Sarah. “He was put on the urgent transplant list. Three months later he had it – or he would have died.

“Now at least he can help other children cope with what he has been through, and understand more of what is going on.”